Lead Java Software Developer (w/ Pega)

Role Overview
The Lead Java Software Developer (w/ Pega) will join our technology team supporting a large retail banking client undergoing a significant application modernization initiative. This role will focus on the design, development, enhancement, and support of critical enterprise applications built on Java and Spring Boot, with substantial integration into the Pega Infinity platform.
The successful candidate will play a key role in the modernization of existing applications, including migration from Java 7 to Java 17, upgrades from traditional IBM WebSphere Application Server to WebSphere Liberty, and adoption of modern containerized deployment practices using OpenShift. While direct Pega development experience is not required, candidates with prior Pega platform experience will be highly valued. This position requires a hands-on technical leader capable of driving application architecture, mentoring development teams, troubleshooting complex production issues, and collaborating closely with architects, infrastructure teams, and business stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities   

• Lead the design, development, enhancement, and support of enterprise Java-based applications utilizing Spring Boot and modern development practices.
• Drive application modernization efforts, including migration from Java 7 to Java 17 and deployment on IBM WebSphere Liberty.
• Design and implement scalable, resilient, and maintainable application architectures.
• Develop and maintain RESTful APIs and system integrations with internal and external platforms.
• Collaborate with Pega platform teams to support integrated business process automation solutions.
• Provide technical leadership for application upgrades, platform migrations, and production support activities.
• Conduct code reviews and establish development standards to ensure quality, maintainability, and security.
• Support containerized application deployments utilizing OpenShift and Kubernetes technologies.
• Develop and maintain CI/CD pipelines and deployment automation utilizing Jenkins, Git, Ansible, and Artifactory.
• Partner with infrastructure, platform, security, and operations teams to ensure stable and secure application delivery.
• Optimize application performance and reliability through proactive monitoring, tuning, and troubleshooting.
• Participate in Agile ceremonies including sprint planning, backlog refinement, daily standups, and retrospectives.
• Ensure compliance with enterprise security, governance, and regulatory requirements within a banking environment.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field

• 8+ years of professional software development experience with at least 3 years in a senior or lead development role.
• Strong expertise developing enterprise applications using Java and Spring Boot.
• Experience designing, developing, and supporting scalable Java-based applications and services.
• Strong understanding of object-oriented design principles, design patterns, and software engineering best practices.
• Experience developing RESTful APIs and integrating distributed systems.

• Hands-on experience with IBM WebSphere Application Server, including configuration, deployment, troubleshooting, and performance tuning.
• Experience supporting or migrating applications to IBM WebSphere Liberty.
• Working knowledge of IBM MQ and messaging fundamentals.
• Understanding of event-driven architectures and Kafka fundamentals, including topics, partitions, producers, consumers, replication, and troubleshooting.

• Experience deploying and supporting containerized applications on Red Hat OpenShift.
• Strong understanding of Kubernetes concepts including deployments, services, routing, resource management, and troubleshooting.
• Experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines utilizing Jenkins and Git-based source control systems.
• Experience working with artifact repositories such as Artifactory.
• Working knowledge of Oracle databases for application development.
• Experience writing SQL queries, updates, and troubleshooting database interactions.
• Working knowledge of MongoDB including drivers, document schemas, indexing concepts, and application-level troubleshooting.

• Basic Linux administration and troubleshooting skills.
• Experience navigating Linux file systems, reviewing logs, executing shell commands, and supporting enterprise applications in Linux environments.
• Strong troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills across application, middleware, database, and infrastructure layers.

• Demonstrated experience leading development teams and technical initiatives.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with technical and business stakeholders.
• Ability to mentor developers and drive technical best practices.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced enterprise environment.

• Experience with the Pega Platform, including application development, platform administration, upgrades, patching, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
• Experience supporting or upgrading applications utilizing Pega Infinity.
• Prior experience participating in large-scale application modernization initiatives.
• Experience migrating legacy Java applications to modern Java versions.
• Familiarity with Angular and modern front-end development practices.
• Experience with enterprise monitoring and observability tools such as Dynatrace, Splunk, ELK Stack, AppDynamics, or similar platforms.
• Experience within banking, financial services, or other highly regulated industries.
• Knowledge of enterprise security standards, authentication, authorization, and compliance requirements.

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

About Techstra Solutions 
Techstra Solutions is a certified woman-owned (WBENC) management consulting firm specializing in strategy, technology, and implementation services for large organizations undergoing digital and talent transformation. Our experienced team partners with clients to co-create innovative solutions in applications, data, AI, and automation that accelerate measurable, sustainable change. From advisory consulting through technical execution, we are dedicated to driving world-class business solutions that fit your strategic requirements and deliver results. For more information: www.techstrasolutions.com